NASCAR discipline lacks punch

Crime and punishment can vary widely from sport to sport. Exhibit A: The disciplinary rulings handed down by the NBA and NASCAR on Tuesday.

The stock-car racing police smacked Carl Edwards on the wrist with a feather duster for intentionally attacking fellow Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski with a 3,400-pound race car Sunday.

Meanwhile, a push and shove and a couple of errant swings in Saturday's game between Phoenix and Indiana resulted in one-game suspensions for the Suns' Channing Frye and the Pacers' Danny Granger. Three other players were levied fines from $25,000 to $35,000.

Edwards wasn't fined or suspended, receiving a stern warning and three-race probation.

Keselowski was running fifth late in the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Edwards was 153 laps down from a previous run-in with him.

Edwards admitted he was retaliating when he tapped Keselowski's car at about 190 mph, flipping it into the air.

Fortunately, Keselowski was not injured and debris from the car did not sail into the grandstand.

It's apparent NASCAR is sticking with its "boys, have at it" stance this year in an effort to boost sagging attendance and TV ratings.

"We were willing to put more responsibility in the hands of the driver," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "But there is a line you can cross, and we'll step in to maintain law and order when we think that line's crossed."

Translation: That line isn't as important as the bottom line.

■ SHOCKING SEASON -- North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams made it clear after Saturday's 32-point loss at Duke that his team needs to "change its behavior" if it wants to have any chance of winning a game -- much less four in a row -- in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

"The blame's on all of us; it's not just the kids. ... I'm tired of saying the same thing over and over and over," said Williams, whose defending national champion Tar Heels are 16-15 overall and 5-11 in the ACC.

"As a kid, when you're getting ready to put your finger in a socket, and your mom or dad says 'no' and slaps your hand, at some point you've got to decide to stop putting your finger in the socket. Mom and Daddy don't need to say no anymore, you need to stop doing it yourself."

■ SOCCER-GATE -- England's Football Association is investigating security surrounding the national team after conversations between coach Fabio Capello and his players during preparations for an exhibition were allegedly recorded without the team's knowledge.

The secret recordings were apparently made at a hotel north of London last week before England's friendly against Egypt.

According to The Associated Press, an unidentified individual reportedly tried to sell the recordings to newspapers.

News organizations have been warned that publication of the contents of the recordings would be illegal and a breach of the Data Protection Act and Press Complaints Commission rules.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL